Page 139 of Storm of Desire
"It doesn't mean he didn't. But he knows who did, either way. He was one of thedrekiwho told the court I'd doneit."
The Blackfrost.... It didn't sound like him. She'd come to learn he respected honor anddrekilaws. There had to be more to this story than she imagined. "So you'll just leave him there?" she whispered. "And Andri? Is this how you repay twodrekiwho saved yourlife?"
Rurik pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll handle it, Malin. I promise. I'll... work out some way to free the both of them, and then... then Sirius and I can have areckoning."
Her shoulders fell. "But it will be toolate."
"Nothing's too late," Rurik murmured. "I have something Stellan and my mother want—or Haakon does anyway—and they have something I want. I'll offer a trade. We'll remove mother's bracelet in exchange for my cousinslives."
He touched her chin. "It will be all right, Malin. Ipromise."
She tried to swallow her doubt. There was only one bracelet, after all, and twodrekibrothers torescue.
"Thank you," shewhispered.
Rurik nodded shortly, and then entered the farmhouse, leaving her out there in thenight.
He would save them. She was certain of it. He hadto.
He was theprince.
But what if he was forced to make a choice between Andri, the good brother everyone loved, and the Blackfrost, who he suspected had a hand in his father'sdeath?
A shiver ran throughher.
Epilogue
Six months later....
The wind blewa pair of strangers through her door, and Árdís glared as they tracked mud all over her floors. It felt strange to have a home, especially one that lurked in the shadow of her brother's volcano. Haakon had built it for her with his bare hands, and though his heart belonged elsewhere, they would stay here until the threat of her mother was subdued once and forall.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, pointing to the muddy floor even as a surge of joy made her dizzy. "And what is that on yourface?"
The stranger scrubbed a hand through his fine blond bristles. "It's called a beard. I haven't been able to shave. Someone broke my mirror," he said with a pointed look toward his companion, wholaughed.
"You see," she said, setting her hands on her hips. "You look like my husband. You smell like him. But he was supposed to be home weeks ago, and he doesn't wear a beard. How do I know you're reallyhim?"
Haakon eyed her. "You have a little mole, right here," he said, stabbing a finger into the right side of his chest. "You adore emeralds, and you are a terrible cook, and you are very ticklish rightbetween—"
"That's enough!" she said breathlessly. "I believeyou."
"Right between where?" Tormund asked, looking mildlyinterested.
"You don't like it?" Haakon drew his hand through his beard, his eyes twinkling. "And you know it’s me. Haven't you felt me coming closer everyday?"
“I didn't say I didn't like it.”Her heart throbbed in her chest, and she took a step toward him. "I could grow used to it, perhaps. Where have you been? You were supposed to go see your mother and then come straight back home to me. If I couldn't feel you out there, then I'd have been terrified you'd met yourend."
Haakon grinned at her, "And this is the way you greet me after I've been gone for nearly twomonths?"
She couldn't hold herself back anymore. She threw herself into his arms, pressing her hungry mouth to his. The taste of him exploded through her, and his hands cupped her under the bottom, driving her against a certain sign he was more than happy to see her. It was a sloppy kiss, and his beard tickled her mouth, but she couldn't draw away. It left her breathless, and suddenly she couldn't remember why she was so angryanymore.
Haakon slowly set her down, a certain look in his eyes.“It's been a longtime.”
“It has,”shereturned.
He smiled. "But I need a bathfirst."
Haakon stepped aside, swinging his cloak from his shoulders. Tormund held his arms wide with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows. "Myturn?"
